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NPAA Member Bill Shimota Wins the FLW Red Wing

Category: npaa

 May 24th, 2010 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified May 24th, 2010 at 12:00 AM

Bill Shimota NPAA Member #599 of Lonsdale, MN took home the win today at the FLW Walleye Tour event in Red Wing, MN. 56 competitors battled it out the first two days of the event and the top 10 fished the third and final day of competition. Bill and his three teammates all made the cut. “Our whole team made the cut this time. We finished first, second, third, and sixth place. It was a lot of fun”, said Bill.

Shimota is taking home the champion’s trophy and, $36,001.00 in cash which included money from the “Optional Pot”, Ranger Cup Bonus Award, and the Evinrude Contingency Award.

Bill Fished a community hole known as Buffalo Slough.

“Basically, what we’ve been doing is trying to stay away from the crowd of boats. I’m fishing Buffalo Slough, but I’m fishing the bottom end of it, and I’ve been pretty much alone, except for one of my teammates who had been fishing there as well. We’ve been doing three things. Rigging with live bait…rigging with really big Creek Chubs, rigging with bottom bouncers and “Slow Death”, and at the same time, both guys are casting a crankbait. I’ve got two rigging rods, two casting rods, and when that slows down on me, then, I drop the Fireline rods and troll crankbaits on the sand flats.

“We were casting #7 Rapala RS Shad Raps. Color doesn’t seem to matter. If you put it in front of the fish they will eat it. They’re hitting about any color you throw at them. Yesterday, I had about 25 pounds in the box at 12 o’clock and then I went prefishing.   Thanks to my Structure Scan and Side Scan from Lowrance, I noticed some fish about 50 feet away from my boat as I was turning.  I commented to my partner, ‘The next time I go by I’m going to go a little further down into the shallower water.’ I ended up taking a longer pass the next time finding a really important spot for today, thanks to that technology.”

NPAA Members  finishing in the top 15:

2nd Place: Co Angler Dave Hennings of Hartley, IA and NPAA #544
6th Place: Co Angler Chris Hanson of New Hope, MN and NPAA #637
6th Place: Pro Paul Meleen of Isle, MN and NPAA #95
9th Place: Pro Byron Peterson of Blair, NE and NPAA #52
10th Place: Pro Brian Bjorkman of Fargo, ND and NPAA #500
11th Place: Pro Jason Przekurat of Stevens Point, WI and NPAA #169
12th Place: Pro Terry Filkens of Lake City, MN and NPAA #180
14th Place: Pro Brad Davis of Jackson, WI and NPAA #7

 
FLW NPAA Kids and Family Fishing Clinic!
The NPAA’s “Kid’s Fishing Clinic” put on in conjunction with the FLW Outdoors organization was a huge success with over 50 kids present. Rod, reels, and NPAA “Future Pro” jerseys were given away. There were several NPAA Pros on hand teachiing the kids how to tie a knot and other fishing related tasks. Rick Zachowski #231 MC’d the Kid’s event and Eric Olson #165 gave mini seminars from inside the National Guard wrapped boat where the kids learned about electronics and the difference between jigs and crankbaits, etc.  Other NPAA Pros that were on hand included Jason Przekurat #169 and Mark Courts #719.

The NPAA is a non-profit organization focused on growing the sport of fishing and increasing the professionalism of its members.  Its supporting partners include Northland Fishing Tackle, Navionics, Mercury Marine, Evinrude Outboards, Lund Boats, Ranger Boats, Off-Shore Tackle, Fin-Tech Tackle, Berkley, AIM Walleye Series, Masters Walleye Circuit, FLW Outdoors, Frabill, U.S. Forest Service, Liddle Marketing, FPS Financial Planning Services, Do-it Corp., Optima Batteries, John Butts Outdoors, Pasha Lake Cabins, Oahe Wings and Walleyes Guide Service, Outdoor First Media, Advanced Tex Screen Printing, Pro Staff Gear, and Worldwide Marine Underwriters. More NPAA member and association news can be viewed at www.npaa.net.